"I believe . . ." (Day 42, September 2, 2011)

Every so often it is important to reflect on what you believe and why you do what you do . . .

And, here's some context for the piece . . .

*Almost 1 Billion people have insufficient food to be properly nourished (i.e. hungry).

Source:  World Food Programme (http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats)

*Nearly 1 Billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.5 Billion people do not have proper sanitation.

Source:  (http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/)

*More people die from poverty ANNUALLY (9 - 12 Million deaths from malnutrition and water borne illness) than AIDS (1.6 - 2.1 Million deaths), malaria (1 Million deaths), TB (1.7 Million deaths), and natural disaster (varies - 2010 was a high year with almost 300,000 deaths)  COMBINED.

Sources: Poverty.com based upon statistics from World Food Programme, Oxfam, and UNICEF . . .  http://www.poverty.com/index.html ;  http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/ ; http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm ; http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/development-policies/intervention-areas/humandev/humandevhealth3_en.htm ;

and United Nations News Centre – January 24, 2011

*Over 1 Billion people do not have adequate shelter . . . 100 Million homeless people worldwide, 15.4 Million refugees worldwide, 27.5 internally displaced people worldwide, and 1 Billion people worldwide living in slum conditions.

Sources: http://www.homelessworldcup.org/content/homelessness-statistics ; http://www.refugeesinternational.org/get-involved/helpful-facts-%2526-figures ; and http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

*Re Children Worldwide - 1 Billion of the world's 2.2 Billion children live in poverty (i.e. almost 50%).  2.2 Million children die each year because they are not immunized while 270 Million children have no access to health care.   121 Million children are not able to attend school. 640 Million  do not have adequate shelter and 400 Million children do not have access to safe drinking water.

Source: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

*3.5 Million Canadians live in poverty, including 1 out of every 10 children.

Source: Make Poverty History (http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/learn/issues/end-poverty-in-canada)

BUT . . . we CAN do something about it!!

For example, the estimated additional cost to get everyone basic education, health care, nutrition, water, sanitation, and reproductive health for all women is approximately 5% of what is spent on military worldwide.  (http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats)  While I do think the world would be a safer place if that 5% of military spending was spent on these things, my point in making this example is to show that WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES.

It's simply a matter of asking . . . what are our priorities?

Do you think society's priorities should change?

Please share with others . . . and leave your comments below.

Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

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